Denílson de Oliveira Araújo

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Denílson, full name Denílson de Oliveira Araújo, (born August 24, 1977 in Diadema, Brazil) is a football winger, who in 1998 became the most expensive footballer in the world when Real Betis paid São Paolo £21.5m. He was recently released by Palmeiras and had a trial with Bolton Wanderers Football Club ^[1], but they didn't sign him ^[2].

[edit] Career

[edit] Club level

Denílson broke the world record transfer fee when Real Betis paid São Paulo US $32 million for his services. Denílson had been with São Paulo since 1995. Real Betis had been impressed by Denilson's performance at the Copa América 1997.

In 1999/2000, after Real Betis remarkably had been relegated to the Segunda División, Denílson went on a brief loan to Flamengo. After becoming a World Cup winner in 2002, Real Betis sold the Brazilian in 2005 to French club Bordeaux for an undisclosed amount, four seasons before his contract was due to expire^[3]. His performance for the Seville club had been disappointing and most fans considered him a liability at this stage. At the time of the transfer, he was no longer included in the Betis squad.^[4]

Despite a slow start at Bordeaux, Denilson managed to find his form in the second part of the season, but his excessively high wage demands prevented the French club from extending his contract. His contract expired in 2006, and he had been linked with free transfers to Tottenham Hotspur, Vestel Manisaspor and Celtic. Even with UEFA Champions League football next season, Bordeaux struggled to match the winger's wage demands, and he left to sign for Saudi Arabia's Al-Nasr. After making only 15 appearances with the club, Denilson negotiated a move to FC Dallas of Major League Soccer, becoming FC Dallas' designated player. On September 1st, Denilson made his MLS debut, entering in the 55th minute against DC United. On September 8th, Denilson made his first MLS start as FC Dallas hosted Toronto FC at Pizza Hut Park. Denilson scored his first MLS goal off a penalty kick in the 36th minute of the match; that goal stood up to be the winner as FC Dallas defeated TFC by a 2-nil score line. He also picked up a yellow card in the 70th minute of that match for a tackle from behind.

After scoring only 1 goal with zero assists in 7 matches, Denilson was excluded from Dallas' squad for their appearance in the final of the US Open Cup, raising questions if he would remain with the club following the season. However, Open Cup regulations allow no more than five foreign players on the game-day roster.^[5] Further fueling speculation, head coach Steve Morrow said Denilson needs to earn a spot in the starting lineup like everybody else. Dallas goalkeeper Darío Sala said the team was having problems adjusting to a change in scheme to accommodate Denilson^[6]. Following the MLS season, FC Dallas decided not to pick up its option on Denílson for the 2008 season, but stated their desire to resign the winger at a lower salary.^[7]

In February 2008, Denilson signed a 1 year performance-based contract with Palmeiras, hoping the club structure and experienced coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo would help him recover his best football as well as win titles. Denilson left Palmeiras in December 2008.^{[citation needed]}

On January 6 2009, Denilson was taken on trial by English Premier League side Bolton Wanderers with a chance to sign a contract until the end of the season. ^[1] According to Bolton Wanderers manager Gary Megson, Denilson's arrival has drawn attention from football clubs around the world, who have been alerted to his status as a free agent, however Bolton have now said they are not interested in signing him^[8]. Denilson has recently admitted: "I want to play in Europe, but I am not in a rush. I have received proposals from England, Greece, Turkey and Germany. And I am studying them. I understand that this is the time to return to European football, but if I am not convinced by any offer I hope to continue in Brazil, where there are also clubs interested in me." ^[9]

After terminating his contract with Palmeiras, the 31 year old forward has signed a three month deal with Itumbiara^[10].

[edit] International level

Since his debut in November 1996 against Cameroon and as of 2005, Denílson has been capped 61 times for Brazil, scoring nine goals. After a second place finish at the 1998 World Cup, he made five substitute appearances en route to become a World Cup winner after Brazil won the tournament in Japan and South Korea in 2002. However, he fell out of favour when Carlos Alberto Parreira became the Brazil coach in 2003 and was not included in the 2006 squad. Current Brazilian coach Carlos Dunga has yet to call him.

[edit] Honours

São Paulo

• Copa Conmebol: 1994
• São Paulo State Championship: 1998

Brazil

• Copa América: 1997
• FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997
• FIFA World Cup: 2002

Real Betis

• Ramón de Carranza Trophy: 1999 e 2001
• Copa del Rey: 2005

Palmeiras

• São Paulo State Championship: 2008

[edit] Awards

• FIFA Confederations Cup MVP : 1997

[edit] Quotes

• "I'm twice as good as the number 10" - on why he chose the number 20 for Brazil.
• On David Beckham: "He’s pretty. So he’s very lucky: he’s both a footballer AND pretty. I’m this ugly and still the women are all over me".

• On playing overseas: "Everybody will miss home and feel saddened; the important thing is to be with trusted people in the beginning, when you still haven’t adapted".

• "I don't understand why people hate it when I have the ball for a little longer time. I like having the ball, and if you have a look at the past then you will know that I have done things to help the team by keeping it a little longer." - On being criticised for holding the ball too long.

[edit] References

v • d • e Brazil squad – Copa América 1997 Winners (5th Title) 1 Taffarel • 2 Cafu • 3 Aldair • 4 Márcio Santos • 5 Mauro Silva • 6 Roberto Carlos • 7 Giovanni • 8 Dunga • 9 Ronaldo • 10 Leonardo • 11 Romário • 12 Carlos Germano • 13 Djalminha • 14 Zé Maria • 15 Célio • 16 Gonçalves • 17 Zé Roberto • 18 César Sampaio • 19 Flávio Conceição • 20 Denílson • 21 Edmundo • 22 Paulo Nunes • Coach: Zagallo

v • d • e Brazil squad – 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup Winners (1st Title) 1 Dida • 2 Cafu • 3 Aldair • 4 Júnior Baiano • 5 Dunga • 6 Roberto Carlos • 7 Bebeto • 8 Flávio Conceição • 9 Ronaldo • 10 Leonardo • 11 Romário • 12 Rogério Ceni • 13 Zé Maria • 14 Gonçalves • 15 Zé Roberto • 16 César Sampaio • 17 Doriva • 18 Denílson • 19 Juninho • 20 Rivaldo • 21 Rodrigo • 22 Russo • Coach: Zagallo

v • d • e Brazil squad – 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup Third Place 1 Taffarel • 2 Zé Maria • 3 Júnior Baiano • 4 Gonçalves • 5 Mauro Silva • 6 Jenílson Júnior • 7 Edmundo • 8 Flávio Conceição • 9 Zinho • 10 Denílson • 11 Romário • 13 Russo • 14 César Belli • 16 Doriva • 17 Assunção • 18 Sérgio Manoel • 19 Donizete • 20 Élber • Coach: Zagallo

v • d • e Brazil squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup Runners-up 1 Taffarel • 2 Cafu • 3 Aldair • 4 Júnior Baiano • 5 César Sampaio • 6 Roberto Carlos • 7 Giovanni • 8 Dunga • 9 Ronaldo • 10 Rivaldo • 11 Emerson • 12 Carlos Germano • 13 Zé Carlos • 14 Gonçalves • 15 André Cruz • 16 Zé Roberto • 17 Doriva • 18 Leonardo • 19 Denílson • 20 Bebeto • 21 Edmundo • 22 Dida • Coach: Zagallo

v • d • e Brazil squad – Copa América 2001 1 Marcos • 2 Belletti • 3 Cris • 4 Roque Júnior • 5 Eduardo Costa • 6 Roger • 7 Geovanni • 8 Emerson • 9 Guilherme • 10 Juninho Paulista • 11 Denílson • 12 Dida • 13 Alessandro • 14 Luisão • 15 Juan • 16 Júnior • 17 Juninho Pernambucano • 18 Rochemback • 19 Fernando • 20 Alex • 21 Ewerthon • 22 Jardel • Coach: Scolari

v • d • e Brazil squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup Winners (5th Title) 1 Marcos • 2 Cafu • 3 Lúcio • 4 Roque Júnior • 5 Edmílson • 6 Roberto Carlos • 7 Ricardinho • 8 Gilberto Silva • 9 Ronaldo • 10 Rivaldo • 11 Ronaldinho • 12 Dida • 13 Belletti • 14 Ânderson Polga • 15 Kléberson • 16 Júnior • 17 Denílson • 18 Vampeta • 19 Juninho • 20 Edílson • 21 Luizão • 22 Rogério Ceni • 23 Kaká • Coach: Scolari